More Pheu Thai Party heavyweights have migrated to the pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), dealing a further blow to the former ruling party which has already been rattled by high-profile defections.
Observers said the latest defections will further send Pheu Thai on a "downward spiral" from which it shows no signs of recovery.
A PPRP source told the Bangkok Post that the mass exodus of key Pheu Thai politicians to the PPRP has in fact been pre-arranged since the PPRP was established.
The latest batch of defectors are mostly from the Pheu Thai's powerful Wang Bua Ban faction, controlled by Yaowapa Wongsawat, a younger sister of former Thaksin Shinawatra and a former MP for Chiang Mai.
They include a group of former MPs for Khamphaeng Phet led by former PM's Office minister Varathep Rattanakorn, and a group of Chiang Mai-based politicians led by the Buranapakorn family, the source said. Meanwhile, former government whip Amnuat Khlangpha will also move to the party.
Dejnattawit Teriyapirom, son of Boonsong Teriyapirom who was a former commerce minister in the Yingluck Shinawatra government, is also tipped to join the PPRP led by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, the source said.
The defectors from Pheu Thai will be unveiled as new PPRP members on Saturday, the source said.
Mr Dejnattawit recently resigned from Pheu Thai, citing negative remarks made about his father by a lawyer of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Mr Dejnattawit, 28, had only joined Pheu Thai in September and been introduced as a young member and potential MP candidate for Chiang Mai province. The media quoted him as saying that he filed his resignation letter with Pheu Thai on Nov 13.
However, the source admitted the PPRP will still not be able to take full advantage of Pheu Thai's "downward spiral" because it is up to the voters to make the final decision about whether they will still vote for Pheu Thai or not.
High-profile Pheu Thai politicians who previously migrated to the PPRP include former MP for Loei, Preecha Rengsomboonsuk, Virat Rattanaset, a veteran in Nakhon Ratchasima, and former Pheu Thai MP for Ubon Ratchathani Supol Fongngam.
The source said that the latest mass defections were linked to the National Anti-Corruption Commission's expansion of its probe in the fake government-to-government (G2G) rice case.
The NACC recently said it had expanded its investigation into the bogus G2G rice case and found more wrongdoers.
It said it was gathering evidence and examining the money trails of those implicated in the case.
On Aug 25 last year, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions found Boonsong and 16 others were guilty in a case involving fake G2G rice deals. He was given a 42-year prison sentence.
The source said Boonsong's information regarding the money trails will be instrumental in the NACC's probe.
With Feb 24, 2019 as a likely poll date, Nov 26 would be the last day politicians could apply for party membership in order to eligible to contest in the polls.
Politicians are required to be members of a political party for at least 90 days prior to the election date to qualify standing as MPs for that party.
That is why several "A-list" Pheu Thai politicians are now rushing to try and join the PPRP before the Nov 26 deadline, the source said.
A source from the Pheu Thai Party said that those in power have come up with a "carrot-and-stick" approach to draw Pheu Thai politicians into the fold of the PPRP -- by threatening them with legal cases, and through connections of veteran politicians such as former transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit and former labour minister Somsak Thepsuthin.
In a related development, Suchart Tancharoen yesterday led 30 politicians under his Ban Rim Nam group to join the PPRP and said he favours Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to continue as premier after the general election as he felt he would be good in the job.
The former Chachoengsao MP said he defected from the Bhumjaithai Party because he liked PPRP's policies which support the current military government's Eastern Economic Corridor development in eastern provinces.